Popular-Vote Movement Nears Crucial Moment

A three-year-old effort aimed at electing U.S. presidents through a popular vote is entering a critical phase in the coming weeks, with two big states set to possibly endorse the concept.

The National Popular Vote (NPV) plan passed the New Jersey state Assembly last week and is set for a vote in the state Senate in early January. Around the same time, Illinois is expected to finish work on the bill, which has already passed both chambers there.